Smoking in New Zealand
In New Zealand, smoking is legal but subject to tobacco control regulations. Cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products and can be sold through retail outlets, including online sales and vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a trade license. Health warnings on packaging are mandatory, the legal minimum age for purchase is 18 years, and smoking in public places is subject to legal restrictions. A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising is also in place. Cigarettes in New Zealand are taxed at a total rate of 82.78%, including an excise component of 69.74%. Data show that in 2024, the number of current smokers was recorded to be approximately 364,000 in New Zealand, corresponding to an adult smoking prevalence of 8.6%. In the same year, current smoking prevalence was slightly higher among males (9.7%) than among females (7.7%). In 2022, this prevalence was recorded to be 11.4%. In 2023, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was reported to be 7.7%, with approximately 362,845 daily smokers. In 2021, smoking led to approximately 3,580 deaths in New Zealand, including 2,085 deaths among males and 1,495 deaths among females. In other words, tobacco smoking accounted for 10.38% of all deaths in the country in 2021, including11.78% of all male deaths and 8.9% of all female deaths.
Read articles from New Zealand
March 20, 2020 by scoop.co.nz
A Chance To Clear The Air With New Vaping Rules
The Health Coalition Aotearoa welcomes the Government's leadership in outlining vaping regulations and recognising widespread concerns about vape marketing. These regulations recognise vapes could help smokers move to a less harmful source of nicotine while also acknowledging we must protect children from getting hooked on nicotine.
The Smokefree Expert Advisory Group of the Health Coalition Aotearoa, an umbrella organisation for the health advocacy, healthcare and academic sectors, congratulates the government on introducing this needed legislation.
March 03, 2020 by scoop.co.nz
Kiwi vaping advocate takes on WHO’s tobacco stance
A well-known New Zealand vaping advocate has returned from the Philippines resolute that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) steadfast position of tobacco control, not harm reduction, is costing considerable lives globally.
Nancy Loucas, Executive Director for CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia-Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates), says tobacco use causes one million deaths a year in the Asia-Pacific region alone, and the rights of consumers using smoke-free alternatives need to be respected.
January 22, 2020 by thelancet.com
Use of e-cigarettes and smoked tobacco in youth aged 14–15 years in New Zealand: findings from repeated cross-sectional studies (2014–19)
Media reports of a vaping epidemic among youth have raised concerns about the creation of a new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals who could graduate to cigarette smoking. We investigated the use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes in the youth of New Zealand from 2014 to 2019, with focus on daily use of these products as an indicator of potential dependence. We analysed data from the Action for Smokefree 2025 Year-10 survey, an annual cross-sectional survey of tobacco use undertaken by almost half of all school students aged 14–15 years (21 504–31 021 students). [...]
January 14, 2020 by thespinoff.co.nz
What’s the deal with Snus – the smokeless nicotine in a pouch?
Basically, the major selling point for snus is that it’s a way of getting a nicotine hit, without also having to actually take smoke into your lungs. That can mean a significant amount of harm reduction, as much of the damage of smoking comes from inhaling the smoke itself. It also makes nicotine consumption possible any time, anywhere. In theory, vaping inside workplaces isn’t banned like smoking is, but in practice many organisations and venues don’t allow it.
December 19, 2019 by medicalxpress.com
Researchers: Remove profit motive from tobacco to deal with mass addiction
Governments worldwide need to create non-profit supply systems for tobacco and nicotine products because of their potential to cause significant and avoidable harm, researchers from the University of Otago say. [...] the researchers argue that tobacco and nicotine products should not be treated as normal consumer products, because of their addictive and hazardous nature.
Lead author Associate Professor George Thomson from the University of Otago, Wellington, says that while nicotine products, such as those used in vaping, are less harmful than tobacco, both are addictive.
October 21, 2019 by nzherald.co.nz
Vaping products now sold in NZ pharmacies
Vaping products are now being sold on pharmacy shelves throughout New Zealand.
Vaping company Vapix, which is branded as a health product, is now being sold in Unichem and Life Pharmacy stores around the country.
The product is only available to those older than 18 and is marketed at smokers, encouraging them to "make the switch". Marie Bennett, the owner of Unichem All Seasons Pharmacy in West Auckland, said the decision to stock vaping products came about from customers requesting the products as a means to quit smoking.
October 17, 2019 by tvnz.co.nz
New data shows cigarette sales have fallen much more sharply in the past two years
The number of cigarettes being sold in New Zealand looks to have fallen more sharply over the past two years or so, according to new stats released to 1 NEWS under the Official Information Act.
The Health Promotion Agency has published statistics showing the number of cigarettes sold in millions over four-weekly periods. Those numbers are gathered from supermarket, service station and liquor store sales numbers by AC Nielsen.
October 09, 2019 by teaomaori.news
2025 smokefree goals ‘a long way off’
Arnah Rewha, a full-time smoker is adamant she will switch to vaping if the Government addresses urgent knowledge gaps around the effects vaping products have on people in New Zealand. This comes as anti-smoking experts look for better outcomes for vapers.
“The feeling of smoking, is a feeling or relief from stress,” says Rewha. [...]
“I think they've recognised they're not going to hit the smokefree goals they've had for 2025. They are a long way off,” says David Sweanor, adjunct professor of law, University of Ottawa.
October 07, 2019 by scoop.co.nz
Anti-smoking experts highlight e-cigarette opportunities
Global anti-smoking experts highlight e-cigarette opportunities
A new report from global anti-smoking experts is warning that the advantages of e-cigarettes should not be dismissed.
The authors are cautioning the Government to not be heavy-handed with regulation of the products. Whilst the report highlights the importance of protecting youth, the authors recommend that this can be achieved whilst assisting smokers to quit smoking and transition to the much less harmful e-cigarette option. They underline that a range of flavours are important to the smokefree proposition of e-cigarettes.
October 07, 2019 by tvnz.co.nz
Vaping a pathway to get people on track to reach Smokefree 2025 goals, professor says
David Sweanor talked to TVNZ1’s Breakfast as experts claim the country is not on track to reach its goal.